Say Thank You Like You Mean It
Suzanne and I have both been thinking a lot about gratitude this month (more to come next week) and, in fact, the practice of gratitude is one that I’ve personally been working on for quite a while.
The question that’s big in my mind – and maybe in yours, too: How do we say thank you in a meaningful way? How do we let our support systems know how much we truly value them? Words are just words; how do we REALLY express our gratitude for those we value, respect, and appreciate?
Whether you’re a part of a non-profit organization or you’re someone who’s feeling especially grateful this year for the people around you, here are some suggestions that you might find valuable when it comes to saying thank you like you mean it.
First, if you’ve been crowdfunding for your podcast (or specialty project), it’s important to let each individual donor know that you “see” and appreciate what they’re doing to support you. Well, obviously!
Depending on how many people have supported your efforts, a hand-written thank you note might not be practical. However, if it IS something you can manage, it’s something you should consider. Turns out, your mom and your aunt were correct – a handwritten thank-you note is meaningful, thoughtful, and fun to receive, too! Why? Because it shows that you took the time to sit down and consider the value of whatever gift your donor has given.
Not only are you saying thank you, you’re spending your time and energy recognizing the people who helped you make whatever you’re working on possible. That’s powerful and people appreciate that recognition.
Second, if you’ve done something like…oh, I don’t know…started a new business this year (ahem), you’ve likely had a lot of support from those closest to you – your family, partner, friends, loved ones, former colleagues, former clients..etc. How can you say thank you like you mean it to this group? Well…how about this: pick up the phone and call someone to have a genuine conversation.
It’s all too easy these days to send a quick “hey, thanks” text or email. Take it to the next level and CALL someone to tell them how much you appreciate their support and insights. (By the way, this works if you’re part of a large non-profit, too – take a list of your members, divide that list between your gift officers and membership employees, and start dialing! Not only will your donors appreciate HEARING your thanks, rather than reading it on a printed card, what a great way to let your team get to know some of your donors, too.)
Finally, just a tip, no matter HOW you decide to say thanks. Be specific. Generic notes, calls, gatherings, events, flowers, chocolates, whatever don’t do nearly enough to truly recognize someone’s support. When YOU say thanks this year, be as specific as you can. Recognize the individual for their contribution, whatever it may be, and acknowledge how that specific contribution made your work/life/etc., better. Be specific!
There are many WAYS to say thank you; we could come up with an extensive list, if we wanted to. But here’s what I think: more than anything else, gratitude has to do with being seen. How can you truly SEE someone who has supported you and how can you express your gratitude for that effort?
What do you think? How are you planning on saying thank you this year?
